Are walking safaris allowed in Lake Mburo National Park?

Are walking safaris allowed in Lake Mburo National Park? Yes, walking safaris are permitted in Lake Mburo National Park, located in the Nyabushozi Kiruhura district. This park is the closest to the country’s main capital city, Kampala, making it one of the easiest parks to visit. It was gazetted in 1963 as a game reserve, and in 1983 it was officially declared a national park.

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the places that doesn’t have dangerous animals. This is why walking safaris can be done within this protected area. Even though the park doesn’t have dangerous animals, armed ranger guides are always available to make sure the tourists and animals are safe.

On a safari to Lake Mburo National Park, tourists have an opportunity to encounter as much wildlife as they can. They can spot the attractions by taking part in the park activities, which include the boat cruise, game drives, and walking safaris. Lake Mburo National Park harbors over 69 mammals and 332 bird species, making it one of the best places to visit while on a safari to Uganda.

Walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park

Walking safaris are some of the activities organized in Lake Mburo National Park. It is done to enable tourists to get so close to the wildlife of the park with the help of armed ranger guides. The park is safe, as it has no animals that could be harmful to human beings, like the lions.

Walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park start with a briefing from the armed ranger guides who are to talk you through the activity. They teach the dos and don’ts of the activity for the safety of tourists and wildlife. Armed ranger guides join tourists and drive to the starting point of the walking safari.

The tourists are left with the armed ranger guides to take them into the wild, where they start looking for the park animals. Different attractions are met along the way, and among these are plants, water sources, birds, and animals such as zebras, giraffes, side-striped jackals, cape buffaloes, topi, defassa waterbucks, elands, impalas, giant forest hog, and warthogs.

After 2 to 3 hours of being close to some of the wild animals of the park, tourists walk back to the starting point where they find their driver guide waiting for them. While driving out of the park or heading back to the lodge, you have an opportunity to see animals you could have missed during the walk like the leopards.

What is the cost of walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park?

Walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park are done at a fee which is paid to Uganda Wildlife Authority. The fees include entrance fees which is $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, $25 rest of Africa, and UGX20,000 for citizens of East African member states. Walking safaris cost $25 for foreign non-residents, $20 for foreign residents, and ugx20,000 citizens of East African non-residents.

When are walking safaris best done in Lake Mburo National Park

Morning is the best time for walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park, and this is because you meet animals that are starting their day grazing. The dry seasons, June to September and December to February, are the best times for walking safaris. These months have little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine, which keeps the walking safaris dry and the vegetation short.

During the dry season, tourists move easily around the park since the walking trails are dry. The vegetation is short which gives a clear view of all attractions of the park, especially the animals. Tourists who want to record videos and take photos capture the best ones since they are easily seen.

Tourists may still travel in the low season, which happens from March to May and October to November. These months are rainy season months, and they do attract a few travelers due to plenty of rainfall and little sunshine. Tourists who do safaris in the low season months get discounted accommodation facilities and tour packages.

During the rainy season, the vegetation is so green that it makes the park look beautiful. Tourists should know that some of the attractions will not be spotted clearly, as the vegetation is tall. The walking trails tend to be muddy and hard to walk through; therefore, tourists need to travel with good waterproof hiking shoes.

Getting to Lake Mburo National Park

Tourists who want to visit Lake Mburo National Park for walking safaris have two ways they can get to the park. The most common one is road transport, where tourists from Entebbe drive through Kampala, Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Sanga, then drive off to Kiruhura, where the park is found. Depending on where you are staying, Sanga Gate, accessed from Sanga Trading Centre, or Nshara Gate or Kyanyanshara Gate, can be used.

Tourists who want to travel in luxury style can fly to Mbarara airstrip and drive to the park, which takes a shorter time. There are many airline companies in the country with flights from Entebbe to Mbarara, and among these are Pearlsky and Aerolink Uganda. To fly to Lake Mburo National Park using Mbarara airstrip, you need to book in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments.